Posted on 06/02/2024 2:25:13 PM PDT by DFG
One pilot was killed and another injured after two small planes collided midair during an air show performance in southern Portugal today.
The accident occurred above an air base in Beja, located about 180 km south of Lisbon, on Sunday as six aircraft belonging to an aerobatic group called the 'Yak Stars' were performing.
One plane collided into another and then exploded into flames, killing its Spanish pilot, the Portuguese Air Force (PAF) said.
The second involved in the accident managed to land on the airport tarmac, with no victims among the spectators, the air force said.
After the accident, the PAF decided to cancel the Beja AirShow, Portugal's biggest air festival.
A video filmed by a spectator and posted on social media showed a formation of six planes in flight, with one of them ascending, apparently touching one of the others and then crashing to the ground in a cloud of smoke.
One plane crashed outside the airbase's grounds and the other managed to land on the airport tarmac. Emergency services rushed to the scene.
'The air force regrets to announce that at 4:05 pm (1505 GMT), at the Beja Air Show, two planes were the victim of an accident during an aerial demonstration' involving six aircraft, PAF said in a short statement.
A Spanish national died, it added. An air force spokeswoman said the victim was the pilot of one of the aircraft involved in the collision.
Another pilot with Portuguese nationality was lightly injured and received emergency treatment before being rushed to Beja hospital.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Reckless. At least those on the ground were spared (and the other pilot).
Were they trying to do a “missing man” formation and it went wrong?
New guy, bad timing?
We live on a small airport with neighbors who own and fly aerobatic aircraft in formation. I have never had any desire to do that type of flying and am very happy with our Piper Cherokee which is extremely easy to fly.
But before I started flying General Aviation aircraft, I flew ultralight aircraft and hang gliders. A lot of the places where I flew hang gliders when there was not much wind, there would be a dozen of us sharing the same ridge lift. I had one acquaintance who was much older than most of the rest of us and he was a menace. He had several midair collisions where he clipped other people’s wings and somehow was never injured or caused a serious injury.
Fortunately, we were all flying the same direction at low speeds and far enough above the ground that everyone was able to recover after being bumped by this guy. The only injuries were caused by extremely harsh words shouted in strung together in profane outbursts.
Are there common courtesies for hang gliding? Take turns taking off? Minimum distance between gliders?
In WWII, “formation flying” was a required study for US Navy pilots.
Aviation ping......
Looked like someone tried to hotdog it and miscalculated the angles and closure speed.
Which would be the one flying straight. Not saying it was his fault, but that he was the one that collided with the other that appears to be trying to get out of the way or something.
Still is!
Formation flying is great fun!
But, you MUST be careful!
It depends partially on the site and the people using it, but there are some basics to help keep people out of trouble:
1. When ridge soaring, the glider closest to the ridge has the right-of-way.
2. When approaching head on during ridge soaring, the pilot with the ridge to his right has the right-of-way.
3. The low pilot has the right-of-way.
4. Always turn away from the hill when reversing directions.
(ALWAYS CLEAR YOUR TURNS!)
5. A glider overtaking another glider flying the same direction should pass between the ridge and the glider being overtaken.
6. The first pilot to enter a thermal establishes the turning direction for all other pilots entering that thermal.
7. Do not fly directly over or under another glider with less than 50 feet clearance.
8. When approaching head on with another glider, both gliders should turn to the right.
9. When two gliders are coming together, the pilot on the right has the right of way.
There are obvious reasons why the military flies in formation to accomplish their missions. This necessitates study and practice. It is just not something that my wife and I are into other than sometimes flying close with friends on “hundred dollar” hamburger missions so we can get some good pictures and video.
But as I mentioned we have neighbors and friends with vintage aircraft who really enjoy that type of flying.
Near me are two Piper Cubs who fly close together. I can identify them by their exhaust sounds, which are a little different than a twin.
(and, equipped with oversized wheels, they take incredibly long to come into view). ;)
“Reckless”.
It’s been 30+ years, but a low-wing plane struck the upper cabin of a Cessna while flying in the wide-open air space of The Everglades. A true accident, for sure.
The Cessna crashed with at least one fatality.
Our Crime Lab was tasked to identify the black smudge on the Cessna with the other tires. (Sundowner?)
At minimum, the Sundowner claimed he didn’t do it or, at worst,this was a criminal act.
A Cherokee is meant to be easy to fly and economical. Like most other people I learned to fly in a Cessna so that is what we looked for first. Fortunately, we ended up with a Cherokee; for us the advantages have been great.
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